Police investigate abuse allegations at church care home for vulnerable kids

A MAN has claimed that his son, who was a resident at the home has been one of the victims of abuse.

A CHURCH care home for vulnerable children is at the centre of an abuse probe.

Detectives are investigating claims that four youngsters were attacked at the Church of
Scotland’s Mallard home in Glasgow’s Springburn.

Officers launched the probe after a dad claimed his son, who is now an adult, had been one of the victims.

The allegations of sexual and physical abuse date back to the 1990s when the boy was a
resident.

His father removed him from the home in 1999 after raising concerns about unexplained
bruising on his son.

A psychologist’s report concluded that his injuries and behaviour were “highly indicative of physical and/or sexual abuse”.

A 2001 report by a senior social worker concluded that while there were innocent explanations for the boy’s condition, it was possible that he was also attacked by the shift leader, who “might reasonably have been charged or sacked” over three assaults.

A senior member of staff was suspended and transferred after a witness claimed to have seen the man hitting a youngster.

Church bosses investigated the claim but did not contact police. The boy’s father later found out he had been briefly placed on the child protection register without his knowledge.

He
also believes that he was secretly suspected of abusing his son, who cannot speak and was placed in care after his parents split up. But neither he nor anyone else was interviewed by police.

The dad said: “A man had been hurting kids when my son was in that home and the authorities
knew I was trying to find out what happened but they covered it up.

“They didn’t even tell me my son was put on the child protection register or that I was suspected of abusing him at one point.

“I know I didn’t abuse my son – so who did? I want answers.”

According to a council report, three other children staying at the Mallard were physically assaulted by a senior member of staff.

A police spokeswoman confirmed
they were investigating reports that four children were assaulted at the Mallard during the 1990s “to establish if there is any criminality involved”.

The Church of Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council said it was “inappropriate” to comment during the investigation.

The
dad has received support from Justice Minister John Swinney.In a letter
he wrote on his behalf, Swinney said: “The problems in this case emanate from, in my view, the failure of institutional authorities at that time to recognise the issue and address it properly.”